Blow-moulding machine with calibration stations

ABSTRACT

A blow molding machine comprising two calibration stations and an extruder arranged between the two calibration stations. The machine produces hose-shaped parisons to be blown into hollow bodies by mold forms in an alternating sequence and in a periodical sequence at the respective calibration stations. An extruder is located along a vertically extending longitudinal center plane of the blow molding machine along which the mold forms are displaceable back and forth between the associated calibration stations and the extruder. A transport device transports the respective hollow bodies blown at the calibration stations to at least one post processing station in sequence. A transport mask is displaceable back and forth along a transport path disposed at a lateral distance from the longitudinal center plane of the blow molding machine and parallel thereto.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to blow molding machine which includes twocalibration stations with an extruder arranged therebetween forproducing hose-shaped parisons in an alternating sequence and in aperiodical sequence at calibration stations, with produced hollow bodiesbeing transported to at least one further processing or work station forprocessing and with a discharge for the processed hollow bodies.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In, for example, DE-3925859-A1, a blow molding machine is proposed whichcomprises two calibration stations and an extruder arrangedtherebetween, with the extruder being adapted to produce hose-shapedparisons adapted to be taken up by mold forms in an alternating sequencein the mold forms and in a periodical sequence at the calibrationstations. The calibration stations and the extruder are arranged along avertical longitudinal center plane along which the mold forms,representing the objects to be loaded with the plastic parisons, aredisplaceable back and forth between their associated calibrationstations and the extruder. At least one post-processing station at whichthe blow hollow bodies are subjected to a post-processing is provided,and a transport device transports the hollow bodies blown at thecalibration stations to the post-processing station in sequence as timedby the blow cycles. The transport device is constructed as atransport-mask which is alternatingly moveable into acceptance positionfor accepting the molded hollow bodies and, from these acceptancepositions, are transportable to the post-processing station. Thetransport mask is constructed in the manner of a blow mold half as ahalf mask having at least one hollow body acceptance aperture or openingwithin which a hollow molded body introduced therein is verticallysupported and secured to prevent falling out from the transport mask byfully formed engagement of the contour of the aperture or opening withprotrusions of form reductions of the hollow molded body.

In a blow molding machine of the aforementioned type, in order to becapable of delivering hollow molded bodies blown at the two calibrationstations to any post-processing stations subsequently arranged along atransport plane, a swinging gripper is provided which, in periodicalsequence, pivots from one calibration station to the firstpost-processing station, from the first post-processing station to theother calibration station and again back to the first post-processingstation, etc. thereby, in each case, delivering the hollow blow bodiesto the post-processing station from which further transport of the postprocess hollow blown bodies occurs along a transport plane which isextended at right angles to the vertical central plane of the basicmachine defined by the arrangement of the calibration stations and theextruder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim underlying the present invention resides in providing a blowmolding machine of the aforementioned type which avoids inherentdisadvantages to the conventional blow molding machine which requireseach of the two calibration stations to include an individual set ofpost-processing stations.

By virtue of the features of the present invention, a noticeableimprovement over the conventional blow molding machines is achievedsince complicated transport devices for bringing the hollow blown bodiesproduced at the two calibration stations are eliminated and it is onlynecessary to provide one set of post-processing stations. Consequently,space requirements for accommodating the individual sets ofpost-processing stations is reduced. Moreover, the necessary technicalefforts to realize the machine are reduced. In this connection,conventional blow molding machines of the type described above employingthe swing gripper requires a considerable technical effort, and, in viewof the arrangement of the post-processing stations and of the swinginggripper with respect to one another, time consuming adjustments arerequired which also complicate a set up of the machine. The features ofthe present invention not only simplify a conventional machine but alsoimprove adjustability of the machine without influencing otherwisefavorable functional properties.

In accordance with the present invention, in a blow molding machine ofthe type described hereinabove, the transport device is constructed as atransport-mask which is displaceable back and forth along a transportplane extending at a lateral distance from the longitudinal center planeof the blow molding machine and parallel thereto. The transport-mask isalternatingly moveable between the respective calibration stations sothat the transport-mask is moveable into acceptance positions oppositefrom the respective calibration stations and, starting from theacceptance positions, the transport-mask is transportable to at leastone post-processing station which, as viewed in a direction oftransport, is disposed following one of the calibration stations and ina vicinity thereto. The transport-mask is constructed as a blow moldhalf or a half mask having at least one acceptance aperture which isoriented or disposed toward the respective calibration station. Theacceptance aperture or opening is adapted to accommodate a hollow moldedbody introduced therein and to be vertically supported and secured toprevent falling out from the transport-mask by a fully formed engagementof the contour of the aperture or openings with protrusions orreductions of the hollow molded body. In order to enable a transferringof the hollow molded bodies blown at the respective calibration stationsand to enable an upward and downward displacement of the blow mandrels,the half masks are constructed so as to be moveable in a direction atright angles to the longitudinal center plane of the blow moldingmachine.

By virtue of the noted features of the present invention, thetransport-mask may be transported at least to the first post-processingstation and is displaceable back and forth between the acceptancepositions opposite to the calibration stations along the transport planeextending at a lateral distance from the longitudinal center plane ofthe blow molding machine.

At least one post-processing station and, if provided, otherpost-processing stations are arranged subsequently to one of thecalibration stations in a vicinity thereto with the result being thatfurther transport occurs in the same direction as the displacement ofthe blow mold forms to which the blow mold forms are subjected betweenthe calibration stations and the extruder. Thus, the blow moldingmachine of the present invention is linear in construction.

Furthermore, the calibrations stations accommodating the upward anddownward displacement of the blow mandrels blown at the respectivecalibration stations delivered to the transport-mask are constructed soas to be moveable at right angles to the longitudinal center plane ofthe blow molding machine.

With a blow molding machine according to the present invention, fordelivering the hollow blown bodies to the transport-mask and totransport the bodies to one or more post-processing stations, onlylinear drives are required which are simple in construction and arerealizable at a low cost. Moreover, the swinging gripper having a highmoment of inertia is eliminated. Additionally, the rotational drive forthe transport-mask as proposed in a conventional blow machine asdescribed above is required at least when asymmetric is required atleast when asymmetric hollow blown bodies produced at the calibrationstation with the same orientation along the longitudinal center plane ofthe base machine should also be conveyable to the post-processingstation in a defined orientation. Instead of rotational drives, the blowmolding machine according to the invention utilizes linear drives bywhich heads of the calibration stations, carrying the blow mandrels, canbe displaced back and forth at right angles to the longitudinal centerplane of the blow molding machine.

The linear drives of the present invention are realizable with acomparatively technical effort since they are, as noted above, simple inconstruction and can be constructed only for relatively small workingstrokes. The hollow blown bodies in the course of transport by thetransport mask arrangement of the present invention are merely subjectedtransulatory motions but not subject to rotary movements which couldsubject the hollow bodies to centrifical forces. Thus, with the presentinvention, it is possible to construct the transport-mask merely as a"half mask" which implies additional simplification as compared with thetransport-mask as required in the blow molding machine describedhereinabove. Where, due to the rotary transport movements, the transportmask must have two half masks displaceable with respect to one anotherin analogy to form halfs of the blow mold.

In accordance with further features of the present invention of the oneor more post-processing stations in the blow molding machine arrangementare arranged along a transport plane. By arranging the post-processingstations along the transport plane, the transport mask of the blowmolding machine of the blow molding machine of the invention may also beused for further conveyance of the hollow blown bodies at least insofaras the dwell times of the hollow blown bodies at the respectivepost-processing stations are very short.

In accordance with still further advantageous features of the presentinvention, the first processing station may include at least one of astamping station or a station for removing a bulb from the blown hollowmolded bodies. Such post-processing station is of the type whereinpost-processing the carried out in only a few tenths of seconds.

It is further advantageous in accordance with the present invention ifthe transport-mask is used as a abutment member by which, during thestamping process, the hollow molded bodies subjected to the stampingprocess is held in position.

In conjunction with the last mentioned features of the presentinvention, the transport-mask can also be used for subsequent transportto the next post-processing or inspection station provided it is notnecessary to use the transport mask at the next post-processing orinspection station for a longer time interval as the abutment or holdingelement.

In accordance with the present invention, the acceptance aperture oropening to the calibration stations have a generally u-shaped form, withborders of the acceptance aperture or openings having a contour which iscomplimentary to the outer contour of the hollow molded bodies to beaccepted. An inner curved border portion of the acceptance apertures oropenings are provided with leg portions which extend in parallel withrespect to each other and at right angles with respect to the centrallongitudinal plane. A drive device is provided for retracting thetransport-mask from its position of engagement with the transportedhollow molded bodies, with the transport mask being displaceable atright angles with respect to the transport plane.

By virtue of the last noted features of the present invention, a simplefunctionable favorable construction of the acceptance aperture oropenings of the transport-mask is defined which insures a certaintransport of the hollow bodies blown at the respective calibrationstations to the post-processing stations. A short stroke linear drive isrequired to disengage the transport-mask from its engagement positionwith the hollow blown bodies.

Advantageously, the drive unit for the lateral movement of thetransport-mask is a double acting pneumatic cylinder following thelongitudinal movement of the transport-mask.

In accordance with the present invention, the drive unit provides fordisplacement of the transport-masks at right angles with respect to thetransport plane and is mounted on a guide block which, as viewed in thedirection of transport, that is parallel to the transport plane, isdisplaceably guided at the machine bed whereby the transport-mask iscarried displaceably guided at right angles with respect to thetransport plane.

With the features of the present invention, the short stroke lineardrive is mounted on a guide block which is displaceable in thelongitudinal direction of the blow molding machine with the guideelement being fixedly or solidly connected with the machine bed.

For this purpose, according to the present invention, a guide tube isprovided which is fixed to the machine bed by a prismatic guide body andforming the guide elements solid with the machine bed for the guideblock slideably displaceably arranged thereon. The guide block isprovided with a longitudinal slot, with longitudinal faces of the slotbeing supported against the opposing free longitudinal guide surfaces ofthe prismatic bodies.

Advantageously, according to the present invention, the transport-maskis displaceable along the longitudinal center plane of the blow moldingmachine by a toothed belt drive having electric drive motor with areversible drive direction. At least one run of the toothed belt driveis fixed to the guide block and carries the transport-mask and extendsin parallel to the guide tube.

A particular space saving advantageous construction of the toothed beltdrive may be achieved in accordance with the present invention with theplane which is defined by the course of the toothed belt extends inparallel to the longitudinal center plane of the blow molding machine,with the upper run of the toothed belt extending through a guide tube,and with the guide block being connected to the lower run of the toothedbelt by a clamping element so as to form a belt joint.

According to the present invention, the acceptance apertures or openingsof the transport-mask are provided with a vacuum channel which isconnected to a vacuum source communicating with the respective aperturesor openings within a range of the aperture border surrounding theaccepted hollow molded body and adapting thereto. By virtue of thesefeatures, a particular certain fixation of the hollow blown bodies inthe acceptance apertures or openings of the transport-mask duringtransport is obtained.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further details and features of the invention will become more apparentin the following description when taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings which show, for the purposes of illustration only,one embodiment in accordance with the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a blow molding machine according to theinvention with a transport-mask displaceable in parallel to a verticallongitudinal center plane of the blow molding machine;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the transport-mask of FIG. 1and guide elements required for longitudinal guidance taken along theline II--II in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the blow molding machine of FIG. 1for explaining its function; and

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the blow molding machine ofFIGS. 1 and 3 as viewed in a direction of the vertical longitudinalcenter plane.

DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings for in like reference numerals are usedthrough out the various views to designate like parts and, moreparticularly, to FIG. 1 according to this figure a blow mold machinegenerally designated by the reference numeral 10 is adapted tomanufacture bottle shaped cans or tube shaped hollow bodies, orcanisters consisting of common thermal plastic materials suitablethereto such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinylchloride(PVC), polystyrene (PS) or polyamide (PA)₋₋ which represent samples ofcommonly used materials suited for a blow-molding process.

The plastic material to be transformed into a finished produce issupplied to the blow mold machine 10 in a thermally-plasticizedcondition, in the form of a hose-like parison or blank 11, from anextruder generally designated by the reference numeral 12 which, in theillustrated embodiment has two extrusion heads 13 from which theparisons or blanks 11 emerge suspended in a downward direction and incoaxial arrangement relative to the central axes 14, 16 of therespective extrusion heads 13.

Viewed along the vertical extending longitudinal center plane 17 (FIG.3), defined by the two central axes 14 and 16 of the respectiveextrusion heads 13 of the extruder 12, calibrating stations 18, 19 arearranged on both sides of the extruder 12. Each of the calibratingstations are provided with two blow mandrels 21 whose vertical axes 22,23 also extend along the center plane 17 of the extruder 12 or of theblow molding machine 10. In the horizontal direction, longitudinal tothe center plane 17 of the blow forming machine 10, the blow mandrels 21each form one of the calibration stations 18, 19 and have an identicalspacing d with respect to each other as the central axes 14, 16 of theextrusion heads 13. The extruder 12 has an identical spacing D to therespective calibration stations 18, 19 as measured along the centerplane 17 between a right angle to the transverse plane 24 of theextruders 12 and parallel thereto, centrally between the center blowmandrel axes 22, 23 transverse plane 24' 24" of the respectivecalibration stations 18, 19.

The extruder 12 and the two calibration stations 18, 19, schematicallyillustrated as machine beds designated by the reference numeral 25, alsoform a support for two closing systems generally designated by thereference numerals 26, 27. The respective closing systems 26, 27 arearranged on the respective machine beds 25 and in the direction of thecenter plane 17 and are able to move horizontally back and forth. Thecalibration stations 18, 19 are at right angles to the center plane 17of the blow forming machine 10 and are arranged so that they can moveback and forth, with the extruder 12 being fixedly mounted on the mainframe (not shown).

In FIG. 3, the calibration stations 18, 19 are represented only for thesake of clarity by schematic sections of their blow mandrels 21. Theblow mandrels 21 include central axes 22, 23 and are illustrated as anexplanation for the construction and function of the blow formingmachine 10 in the same manner as the extruder 12 due to the crosssection of the plastic parisons or blanks 11.

Each of the two closing systems 26, 27 comprises two closing jaws orplatens 28, 29. The closing jaws 28, 29, at opposing sides, form blowform halfs 33, 34 and 36, 37 respectively of two mold forms generallydesignated by the reference numerals 38, 39 respectively. Hollow bodiesto be produced at the calibration stations 18 or 19 are blown in themold forms.

The respective closing systems 26, 27 are mounted on slide blocks (notshown) in a conventional manner. The slide blocks are arranged on aguiding device on the machine bed parallel to the center plane 17 of theblow forming machine and are able to move back and forth in order toenable plastic parisons or blanks 11 to be removed from the extruder 12and transported to the respective calibration stations 18 or 19 wherethe hollow bodies 44 are blown. The particular motions of the mold forms38, 39 as well as the closing system 26, 27 are controlled by ahydraulic drive cylinder. In this manner, the control for the opening ofclosing motions of the mold forms 38, 39, such as a hydro-cylinderconstructed as a linear cylinder, actuates a mechanical engagementbetween the clamping jaws 28, 29 and the closing system 26 or 27.

The relative motions achieved with the hydro-cylinders for the closingjaws 28, 29 of the closing system 26, 27 are "symmetrisised" throughgearing elements such as, for example, a rack and pinion (not shown) sothat the blow form halves 33, 34 or 36, 37, respectively, for the moldforms 38, 39, having a closing gap 41 in the closed state of the moldforms 38, 39, extend in the center plane 17 of the blow formed machine10, were the same engagement and disengagement relative to the centerplane 17 is the same in an opening direction as in the closingdirection.

The blow form machine also comprises a plurality of post working orprocessing stations such as, for example, a bulb removal stationgenerally designated by the reference numeral 42 or a stamping stationas well as a subsequent station such as a test station generallydesignated by the reference numeral 43. Further post working orprocessing stations could follow with the additional or further postworking or processing stations being arranged along a parallel to thecenter plane 17, namely, in a secondary or transport plane 17' alongwhich plane 17' the transport of the hollow bodies 44 is effected untilthe hollow bodies arrive at a discharge station (not shown).

The calibration stations 18, 19, schematically illustrated in FIG. 3,are more clearly shown in FIG. 4, viewed at right angles to the centerplane 17 of the blow form machine. The calibration stations 18, 19 areable to move back and forth in such a manner that the hollow bodies 34can be brought into the transport plane 17' for example, moved adistance such that the central axes 46 of the hollow bodies 44 extendinto the transport plane 17'. A moveable transport-mask 47 is arrangedalong the transport plane 17'. The moveable transport mask 47 enablesthe blown hollow bodies 44 to at least be brought from the calibratingstations 18, 19 to a following arranged post working or processingstation such as, for example, the stamping station 42.

The transport-mask 47 is loaded or driven by the hydraulic controlleddisplacement of the respective calibration stations 18 or 19, with theloading being effected after the mold form 38 or 39, in which the hollowmolded bodies 44, which are to be subjected to further processing arecompletely blown, is just opened and is transferred below the extruder12 for further acceptance of blowable materials. The transport mask isdesigned as a "half mask" which, within a medium portion of its height,is geometrically similar to a medium portion of the respective blow moldhalf 34 or 37 of the blow mold forms 38, 39, respectively, and which is,as shown, for example, in detail in FIG. 4 continuously joining to forma reduction of the hollow molded body 44, for example, a bottle. Thehalf mask surrounds the hollow molded body 44 over 180° of acircumferential portion thereof and is open to the calibration stations18 or 19, respectively. The half mask has a substantially u-shaped formsuch that lateral straight line portions of the substantially u-shapedacceptance apertures 49 (FIG. 3) rectangularly extending to thetransport plane 17, a tangential continuation of a curved or bentportion 49' (FIG. 4) of the acceptance apertures or openings 49.

By the above noted measured the respective hollow molded bodies 44contained in the transport-mask 47 remains secured therein, even if therespective hollow bodies 44 are subjected to a small lateraldisplacement which is directed rectangularly to the transport planes 17due to, for example, a vibrational force.

In order to retain the hollow bodies 44 securely in the transport-mask47, as shown in FIG. 4, the unit is provided with a vacuum channel 51that is connected with a flexible tube 52 to a suction side of a pump(not shown) and adjoins in a central area of the curved or bent portion39' in the respective acceptance aperture or opening 49 of thetransport-mask 47. In this manner, the hollow body 44 can be securelyheld in the system in the curved or bent portions 49' of the acceptanceapertures or openings 49 in the transport-mask 47 while be displaced inthe transport direction.

The transport mask 47 is used as a back stop for a stamping tool 53(FIG. 3) at the stamping station 42 where the plastic exits at the topof the neck 54 of the bottle as well as on the bottom 56 (FIG. 4) can becut off or stamped off by the stamping tool 53 by a pneumatic cylinder60 (FIG. 3) disposed at right angles to the transport plane 17' therebyenabling the stamping tool 53 to move in the direction of thedouble-headed arrow in FIG. 3.

The transport mask 47 may also be used for the further transport to thestamping station 42 for the bulb removal on the hollow body 44 and to asubsequent test station that can, for example, also be used for testingthe air tightness or the like of the hollow body 44. The furthertransport of the already post worked or processed and tested hollowbodies 44 can be effected along a guide rail generally designated by thereference numeral 57 in a conventional manner.

In order to disengage the transport-mask 47 from the post working orprocessing stations 42, 43 as well as to bring the hollow body 44 fromthe guide rail 57 to the transport plane 17', the transport-mask 47 isprovided with a pneumatic drive cylinder 59 (FIG. 2) transverse to thetransport plane 17' as viewed from the center plane 17 of the blow formmachine 10, and provides a drive for the transport-mask 47.

The transport-mask 47 and the pneumatic drive cylinder 58, mounted atright angles to the center plane 17 for transferring the hollow bodies44, is mounted on a guide block 59. The guide block 59 extends parallelto the transport plane 17', horizontally, and is firmly fixed to themachine bed on an attached pipe 61. The guide block 59 is moveable in afully guided motion by a guide slot 62 provided on a side of the guideblock 50 directly across from the machine bed at 25. The guide slot 62includes longitudinally extending cheeks 63, 64 which are in continuouscontact with respective side longitudinal surfaces 66, 67, and inpermanent contact with a prismatic guide body 68 permanently fixed tothe machine bed 25 which is further connected to the guide pipe 61. Dueto the positive locking action of the longitudinal faces 63, 64 on therespective guide surfaces 66, 67 of the prismatic guide body 68, therotary displacement of the transport mask 47 is prevented. As alongitudinal drive for the transport mask 47 along the transport plane17' and which can be moved back and forth, a toothed belt drive 69driven, for example, by an electric motor 61 and a positively lockedmotor shaft drive pinion 72 and a displacement wheel 73 may be providedas shown in FIG. 1. The toothed belt drive is arranged outside of anarea of motion of the transport mask 47. An upper run 64 of the toothedbelt 76 of the toothed belt drive 69 is guided over a length thereofthrough a guide tube 61. The lower run 77 of the toothed belt 76 ispositively connected to the guide block 59 by, a shown in FIG. 2,L-shaped clamping element 78 forming a toothed belt joint.

In the positions of the blow mold forms 38, 39 and of the transport mask47 as illustrated in full lines in FIG. 3, both calibration stations 18,19 have hollow bodies blown therein, whereas at the stamping station 42,the hollow blown bodies 44 which had previously been blown at the"right" calibration station 19, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 3, aresubjected to the bulb removal stamping process.

After a termination of the stamping process which requires only a fewtenths of seconds and, if it should happen, transportation of the "bulbremoval" hollow blown bodies 44 into the inspection station 43 followingthe stamping station 42, the transport mask 47 is removed from anengaging position with the hollow blown bodies 44 transported in thedescribed manner in the direction of the arrow 79 (FIG. 2) by a pressuresupply to the pneumatic cylinder 58 (FIG. 2) and is, by reverse controlof the electric motor 71, brought into a functional position opposite tothe left hand calibration station 18 which is represented in FIG. 3 bydashed line by the toothed belt drive. Upon moving the transport-mask inthe direction of the initial functional position, the pneumatic drivecylinder 58 is supplied with pressure in such a manner that thetransport mask 47 again is brought into an acceptance position nearer tothe calibration station 18 in which it is adapted to accept the hollowblown body 44 blown at the calibration station 18 in a position of theblown hollow bodies in which the central axes 46 of the hollow blownbodies 44 coincide with the center plane 17 of the blow mold machine 10.

As soon as the blowing process at the calibration station 18 which ismore advanced than the blowing process still occurring at the othercalibration station 19 is terminated, the blow mold 38 arranged at thecalibration station 18 opens and travels in its open state into aposition below the extruder 12 which is shown in dashed lines in orderto accept the hose-shaped plastic parisons or blanks 11 extruded therein the meantime to a sufficient extent. Simultaneously herewith thehollow blown bodies 44 still attached to the mandrels 21 at thecalibration station 18, are transferred into the transport mask 47 byshifting the calibration station 18 towards the transport plane 17' andimmediately thereafter the mandrels 21 of the calibration station 18 areelevated, with the hollow blown bodies 44 being transferred to thetransport mask 47 and secured within the transport mask 47 by the vacuumacting on one side thereof.

Thereafter, the calibration station 18 is immediately returned back toits original position which is used for the blowing process and in whichthe central axes 22, 23 of the blowing mandrels 21 coincide with thecenter plane 17 of the blow molding machine 10.

Simultaneously, the transport mask 47, by activation of the toothed beltdrive 69 in a forward direction, is transported into the positionprovided for the stamping of the hollow molded body 44 at the stampingstation 42. During the transportation of the transport mask 47, the blowmold is closed, that is, the clamping jaws or patens are closed, belowthe extruder 12 and travels into its allocated position below thecalibration station 18 suitable for the blow process where after, atthis calibration station 18, the calibration and blowing process isimmediately formed. After a short duration, stamping of the hollow blownbodies blown in advance at the left hand calibration station 18 and, ifit is the case further transportation of the hollow blow bodies 44, tothe test station 43 and the retraction of the transport mask 47 from itsposition of engagement with the finished hollow blown bodies 44, thetransport mask 47 is now transported into its functional positionopposite to the calibration station 19 on the right hand side, which isanalogous to the functional position described above in connection withthe calibration station 18.

In view of achieving the shortest possible cycle time for the blowmolding machine 10 the functional position must be achieved at thelatest when the calibration station 19 can be moved towards thetransport mask 47 which is possible at the earliest moment when the moldform 39 associated with the calibration station 19 in the open state,has reached its acceptance position below the extruder 12. After loadingor charging the transport mask 47 with the hollow blown body 44previously blown at the calibration station 19, which occurs afterloading analogous to the loading of the transport mask 47 at the othercalibration station 18, the transport mask 47 now carries out itstransportation stroke leading to the stamping station 42 where now againthe stamping process is carried out and thereby the process cycle hasnow again reached a phase as occurring at the beginning of theexplanation of the process cycle. In this manner by periodicalrepetition of the process cycles, an effective series production ofhollow blown bodies 44 is possible which is realizable within theshortest cycle times due to the fact that the number of transportationcycles may simultaneously occur while the blowing process is undertakenat the respective calibration stations 18, 19.

In practice, the cycle sequential frequency is determined by thephysical boundary conditions and therefrom resulting time intervalsrequired for the extrusion of the hose-shaped parisons or blanks and forthe unavoidable cooling at the calibration stations 18, 19. There are notime losses occurred by the transport procedure in any way.

I claim:
 1. A blow molding machine comprising two calibration stations,an extruder arranged between said two calibration stations and producinghose-shaped parisons adapted to be blown into hollow bodies by moldforms in alternating sequence and in periodical sequence at therespective calibration stations, said calibration stations and extruderbeing arranged along a vertically extending longitudinal center plane ofthe blow molding machine along which the mold forms are displaceableback and forth between associated calibration stations and the extruder,a transport device adapted to transport the respective hollow bodiesblown at the calibration stations to at least one post processingstation in sequence as timed by blow cycles by the blowing moldingmachine, wherein the transport device is fashioned as a transport maskdisplaceable back and forth along a transport path, said transport pathis disposed a lateral distance from the longitudinal center plane of theblow molding machine and parallel thereto, said transport mask istransported alternatingly between the respective calibration stationsinto an acceptance position opposite the respective calibrationstations, wherein starting from the acceptance position at therespective calibration stations, the transport mask is transported tothe at least one post processing station which, when viewed in adirection of transportation of the transport mask, said at least onepost processing station is arranged following one of the calibrationstations, wherein said transport mask is constructed as a blow mold halfmask having at least one acceptance aperture opening in a direction ofan associated calibration station for enabling an introduction of ahollow molded body from the calibration station, for verticallysupporting and for securing the hollow body to the transport mask toprevent the hollow molded body from falling out of the transport maskduring transport by fully formed engagement of a contour of the at leastone acceptance aperture with one of protrusions and form reductions ofthe respective hollow molded bodies, and wherein each of saidcalibration stations include blow mandrels for blowing the hollow bodiesin the mold forms, said calibration stations are constructed to bemoveable in a direction at a right angle with respect to thelongitudinal center plane of the blow molding machine.
 2. A blow moldingmachine according to claim 1, wherein the at least one post processingstation is arranged along the transport path.
 3. A blow molding machineaccording to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the at least one postprocessing station includes one of a stamping station and a station forremoving a bulb of material from the respective hollow molded bodies. 4.A blow molding machine according to claim 3, wherein the at least oneprocessing station includes one of a stamping station, a station forremoving a bulb of material from the respective hollow molded bodies,and an inspection station for inspecting the process of hollow moldedbodies.
 5. A blow molding machine according to claim 3, wherein the atleast one post processing station is a stamping station, and wherein thetransport mask is used as an abutment member for holding the respectivehollow molded bodies in position during a stamping process of thestamping station.
 6. A blow molding machine according to claim 3,wherein a plurality of post processing stations are provided includingthe stamping station and the station for removing the bulb materiallocated downstream of the stamping station, and wherein the transportmask is adapted to transport the respective hollow molded bodies fromthe stamping station to the station for removing the bulb material.
 7. Ablow molding machine according to one of claims 1 or 2 wherein the atleast one acceptance aperture has a substantially u-shaped configurationcomplimentary to an outer contour of the respective hollow moldedbodies, wherein inner curved border portions of the at least oneacceptance aperture are fashioned as leg portions extending parallelwith respect to each other and that a right angle with respect to thecenter longitudinal plane of the blow molding machine, a drive device isprovided for retracting the transport mask from a position of engagementwith the respective transported hollow molded bodies at the at least oneprocessing station, and wherein said drive device is adapted to displacethe transport mask at a right angle with respect to the transport path.8. A blow molding machine according to claim 7, wherein the drive deviceincludes a double acting pneumatic cylinder connected to the transportmask.
 9. A blow molding machine according to claim 8, wherein the driveunit is mounted on a guide block which, as viewed in a directionparallel to the transport path is displaceably guided at a machine bedso as to enable the transport mask to be displaceably guided at theright angle with respect to the transport path.
 10. A blow moldingmachine according to claim 9, wherein a guide tube is fixed to themachine bed, a prismatic guide body forming a guide element is fixed tothe machine bed for accommodating the guide block slideably displaceableon said prismatic guide body, said guide block includes a longitudinalslot having longitudinally extending faces respectively supportedagainst opposed free longitudinally extending guide surfaces of theprismatic guide body.
 11. A blow molding machine according to claim 10,wherein a drive means is provided for moving the transport mask in adirection parallel to the transport path, said drive means includes atoothed belt driven by a reversible electric drive motor, said toothedbelt including an upper run fixed to said guide block and carrying atransport mask, and wherein a said upper run extends in parallel to saidguide tube.
 12. A blow molding machine according to claim 11, wherein aplane defined by a course of the toothed belt extends parallel to thelongitudinal center plane of the blow molding machine, the upper run ofthe toothed belt extends through the guide tube, and wherein the guideblock is connected to a lower run of the toothed belt by a clampingelement forming a belt joint.
 13. A blow molding machine according toany one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the at least one acceptance apertureincludes a vacuum channel connected to a vacuum source communicatingwith the at least one aperture in a vicinity of a border of at least oneaperture.